Preparing for the End Times – God’s Timetable (Part 3) – The Restrainer of Evil

Pastor Phil Andrukaitis, September 24, 2023

The Apostle Paul’s Second Letter to the Thessalonians

General Theme:  Living Righteously While Waiting Patiently for Jesus to Return

Sermon Title:  Preparing for the End Times – God’s Timetable (Part 3) – The Restrainer of Evil

Sermon Text:  Second Thessalonians 2:6-12

Subject:  The Restrainer of Evil

Complement:  While lawlessness reaches its zenith in the Antichrist, there is One Who will ultimately restrain him.

 Dominating Idea:       Almighty God will have the last word!

 Introduction

Do these names sound familiar – Daniel Penny and Jordan Neely?  Daniel Penny, a former Marine, was arrested and charged with second-degree manslaughter of a homeless black man, Jordan Neely, in a NYC subway on May 1st of this year.  Mr. Penny applied a “chokehold” on Mr. Neely, restraining him from unleashing his threatening actions to the frightened passengers on a NYC subway.

While the media will deliberately slant this ongoing story to fit their narrative, God’s Word is clear that even now, there is a restraining force at work in our world, preventing the full onslaught of wickedness in our world.

Transitional Thoughts

This pulpit has been moving through Paul’s letters to the Thessalonians these past several months.  We know that after establishing the church in Thessalonica, Paul personally instructed the new believers about future prophecy, explaining in great detail about the Rapture of the church and the Day of the Lord.

However, being severely persecuted for their faith, many Thessalonians wondered if they were already experiencing the Day of the Lord’s wrath, thanks to the false teachers who had “fabricated reports about the event, causing disruption and anxiety in the church, and spreading great fear among these young believers who did not understand clearly what Paul had taught.”[1]  Consequently, the Thessalonian saints became confused concerning the timing of certain prophecies. Thus, Paul assured them that the Day of the Lord could not come until three events occurred:

    • The “falling away” – The Apostasy during the Great Tribulation
    • The revelation of the Antichrist
    • The “stepping aside” of the One Who restrains evil

Concerned that the Thessalonian saints were disturbed in spirit and vulnerable unto deception, Paul addressed four issues:

    • The Rapture of the Church (2:1-3a) – September 3
    • The Revelation of the Antichrist (2:3-5) – September 17           
    • The Restrainer of Evil (2:6-12) – September 24  TODAY’S FOCUS
    • The Resolve of God (2:13-17) – October 8 

The Restrainer of Evil (2:6-12)

A. The Identity of the Restrainer (2:6)

“And you know what is restraining him now so that he [Antichrist]
may be revealed in his time.
(2nd Thessalonians 2:6-7)

While some of the Thessalonian saints were so distraught over the false teachings about the “Day of the Lord,” peace in their souls had evaporated.  They needed help to realign their theology so that they would believe rightly and live rightly.  After all, our lives reflect our beliefs.

When Paul asked the question in his letter to them, “do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? (2:5).  Sometimes, we just need a gentle reminder from our spiritual teachers.

And so, it seems clear from verse six that the Thessalonians knew what and who was restraining the “lawless one” – the coming Antichrist.  It’s too bad though, that Paul did not include the identity of the Restrainer in his second letter to the Thessalonians.  It would have been most clear to us.

What does the Restrainer do?  This restraining force “holds back,” “holds down,” “suppresses” the forces of darkness that oppose God and His Word.

Many students of Scripture have suggested various identities of the Restrainer.  Consider the following identities:

    • The preaching of the gospel
    • The nation of Israel
    • The church’s binding of Satan
    • The church’s effect as “salt and light”
    • The various governments throughout the world
    • The principles of godly morality
    • Even Michael the Archangel

But all these entities fall short.  Why?  MacArthur writes,

“The most significant problem with all of them (except for the last) is that they are human forces.  Humans preach the gospel; humans make up the nation of Israel; humans attempt to bind Satan; humans comprise the church; humans run world governments; humans agree on principles of law and morality;…But human power, ingenuity, and institutions cannot restrain the supernatural power of Satan that seeks to release Antichrist.”[2]

While the world grows more evil, the church has been unable to restrain completely the spread of evil.  Therefore, who alone can restrain Satan from implementing his plans for universal control?  Answer:  The Spirit of God.

B. The Work of the Restrainer (2:7)

For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work.
Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way.”
(2nd Thessalonians 2:7)

    • The Restrainer works against Satan and the lawless one.

God is working out His plan.  Just as God brought forth His Son in the fullness of time to be born of a woman (Galatians 4:4-5), God will allow Satan to reveal his choice servant, the man of lawlessness who will give himself over to Satan.

David Levy writes:  “So horrible will the Antichrist’s acts be once he is revealed that it would be impossible for humanity to ever understand the depths of his wickedness without God’s revelation…the world will experience a Satanic onslaught of evil that will be unparalleled in world history.”[3]

Let’s remember this basic reality:  Satan is an angel, the greatest angel God created.  But Satan is nothing more than a creature.  He is subject to God in every way.  While God could add humanity to His divine nature (100% divine and 100% human) to be the sacrifice for our sins, Satan is still an angel; nothing more.  He cannot add to his nature.  He does not have unlimited power.  He can only be in one place at a time.  And he does not know all things.  He is nothing more than an angel, created by God.

And so, Satan tries his best to imitate God.  Just as God the Father sent His Son into this world and to do the Father’s will and work, Satan will send his servant, the lawless one who will give himself completely to Satan to do his will and work.

Yet, behind all of Satan’s efforts to bring about his wicked, evil plans, there is God, restraining Satan and his plans until the time is right for God to carry out His next step in His glorious plan.

    • The Restrainer continues to save sinners who believe the gospel.

When God is taken out of the way, it does not mean that He leaves this world.  Rather, the Spirit ceases His efforts to restrain Satan and his evil forces.  God takes His hands off and says in effect, “have at it.”

Meanwhile, during the Great Tribulation, there will be a great revival of sinners.  And while divine judgments are falling upon this world, sinners by the multitudes will be repenting and calling out to God for salvation.  Why?  Apart from the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit, no sinner can be saved (John 3:3-8; Titus 3:5).

C. The Judgments from the Restrainer (2:8-12)

Read the text.

Identify the judgments upon the “lawless one,” his kingdom, and his subjects.

    • The lawless one will be cast alive into the lake of Fire (2:8a; Revelation 19:20).
  •  
    • The kingdom of the lawless one will come to nothing when Jesus returns to establish His kingdom (8b). His influence and all of the policies implemented during his short reign will come to nothing.
  •  
    • The subjects of the lawless one (subjects of this godless kingdom) will perish with the delusion sent by God – a delusion that the Antichrist’s power, signs and wonders, and deceptive ways will save them. Therefore, God condemns them to eternal destruction because of these reasons:

      • ♦ They believe what is false.
      • ♦ They refuse to believe what is true and be saved.
      • ♦ They take pleasure in wickedness.

Conclusion

We are living in a time of unprecedent evil as our world races towards globalism, thanks to the efforts of the World Economic Forum, the United Nations, the peace talks between Israel and Saudi Arabia and our nation’s abandonment of moral restraints.

Our nation is no longer governed by honorable senators, representatives, or even a president for whom we have voted.  Rather, God has handed this nation over to evil rulers.  While there are still a few godly voices in Congress, these individuals need our prayer.  Meantime, our nation can expect greater loss of freedoms and finances as lawlessness is on the rise.

In addition, many citizens in our nation already seem deluded, believing lies, refusing truth, and living lives apart from God, while rejecting His Word.  They have redefined God according to their own desires and have chosen to worship their god and not the God of the Bible.

What about you?  Are you ready to stand before the Lord Jesus Christ?  He’s standing on the threshold of heaven, ready to rapture His church, judge this world, and return to rule this world in righteousness. Have received the truth of God and living accordingly?  If not, beware; judgment is coming.

Concluding Principles

    • Influence the wickedness around us by being salt and light in this world.
    • Preach the gospel.
    • Delight not in any form of evil wickedness.
    • Read Scripture while watching and praying. Be not deceived.
    • Understand that God appoints each ruler/politician to fulfill His will.
    • Pray for those in authority.
    • Rejoice, as one day, King Jesus will put an end to all wickedness.

[1] David M. Levy, The Restrainer of Evil, [doc online] from, https://israelmyglory.org/article/the-restrainer-of-evil/, accessed 2023, Sept. 24.

[2] John MacArthur, The MacArthur NT Commentary, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, (Chicago:  Moody Press, 2002), pp.277-278).

[3] David M. Levy, The Restrainer of Evil, [doc online] from, https://israelmyglory.org/article/the-restrainer-of-evil/, accessed 2023, Sept. 24.